Download or read book Annual Report 2004 32nd Report of Session 2003 04 written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2004 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Each year the Government deposits 1200 European policy documents for scrutiny, some of which are cleared straight away, whilst others are reserved for further scrutiny. These are normally considered by one of seven policy-based sub-committees and this report summarises the work undertaken by the Committee through its sub-committees. It also looks ahead to work it plans for next year including: the Subsiduarity Early Warning Mechanism and a scrutiny of the work of the European Commission.
Download or read book Current Developments in European Defence Policy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-03-03 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report examines developments in the European Defence Agency (EDA) since the Committee's 9th report of session 2004-05 (HL 76, ISBN 0104006358). The Committee is disappointed that the three-year financial framework for the EDA has not been agreed, as it is important for future planning. It believes all participating member states should fully participate in projects that have relevance to their defence needs and capabilities, and that the EDA should concentrate on a few achievable tasks, aiming to add value to that which could be achieved by the member states individually. All member states should subscribe to the Code of Conduct on Defence Procurement. The Committee is hopeful that the EDA can play a significant role in the improvement of European military capabilities. The report also presents evidence from the Minster for Defence Procurement on the most recent developments in European defence.
Download or read book The Future Financing of the Common Agricultural Policy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-06-15 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inquiry conducted by Sub-committee D (Environment and Agriculture).
Download or read book Clause 2 of the European Union Bill the Constitution s Passerelle Provisions written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-05-13 with total page 12 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The passerelle ("bridge") provisions relate to simplified procedures designed exclusively for revision of the Constitutional Treaty.
Download or read book Current Developments in European Foreign Policy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-03-03 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee asked the Minister for Europe, Mr Douglas Alexander MP, to give evidence on the most recent developments in European foreign policy. In this report the Committee makes available the oral evidence received. Topics in the evidence are: key developments of the United Kingdom presidency; financing of the Common Foreign and Security Policy; scrutiny and presentation of CFSP; non-proliferation of WMD and small arms; ESDP missions in Africa; the future of the Western Balkans; the possibility of a visa-free regime with Ukraine; the Middle East peace process; the future of the Barcelona process; and assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Download or read book Review of Scrutiny written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-01-30 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's report examines how the UK Parliament can best hold the Government to account for the foreign policy of the European Union, known as the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). As the European Parliament has principally only an advisory role in scrutinising CFSP decisions, national parliaments therefore have a key role to play in ensuring that any foreign policy actions are taken in an open and transparent manner. The Committee welcomes the increased commitment to the scrutiny process shown by the FCO recently and hopes the same culture of scrutiny will be adopted by the MoD. The report makes recommendations including the need for improved procedures for the deposit of documents; early warning of important new initiatives and proposed actions; and the deposit of significant non-legislative documents for scrutiny.
Download or read book The European Union s Role at the Millennium Review Summit written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-07-27 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Millennium Review Summit, in September 2005, will see the UN heads of state and government reviewing how the United Nations can deliver freedom from want, fear and oppression for all the world's peoples. Four agendas will be addressed: development; security; human rights and democracy; and reform of the UN institutions. This report looks at the EU's role in the United Nations, and at what the EU can do to make a successful outcome at the Review more likely. The Committee praises the EU's policies on increasing development aid, and on the responsibility to protect in cases of genocide, ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity. Other areas where the EU and the British government should strive for progress at the Review are: the strategy against terrorism; nuclear non-proliferation; supporting the Secretary-General's proposals for reform of the UN institutions and secretariat.
Download or read book European Defence Agency written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In July 2004 the EU established a European Defence Agency (EDA) to help improve European military capabilities by promoting co-operation in armaments, improving the technological and industrial base, and promoting collaborative research. This report considers whether the EDA is likely to succeed and what its priorities should be
Download or read book Evidence by Commissioner Franco Frattini Commissioner for Justice Freedom and Security on Justice and Home Affairs Matters written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-06-13 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report sets out the evidence taken by the Committee in April 2005 from Commissioner Franco Frattini, the Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security. Topics discussed include: asylum and immigration matters; the Hague Programme; the establishment of the Fundamental Rights Agency; and issues of crime prevention, judicial co-operation and combating terrorism.
Download or read book A European Strategy for Jobs and Growth written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-03-16 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report by the European Union Committee examines the progress of the European Union in initiating a strategy for jobs and growth across the Community as a whole. The background to this report stems from the Spring European Council meeting in 2000, in Lisbon, and the launch of an economic reform agenda. The Committee observes that since the "Lisbon Agenda", little progress has been made and the performance of many of the larger European economies has been poor. The Committee has noted that certain worrying signs of protectionist behaviour have developed, especially regarding barriers of cross border mergers. The EU has recognized this weak performance and the Agenda was relaunched in 2005, with a greater focus on the key economic priorities of more growth and jobs. Also, all Member States are now required to produce an annual National Action Plan highlighting the policies being pursued to improve economic growth and increase employment. The Committee sets out a number of recommendations to further push forward the priorities of growth and jobs, including: that the Commission should seek to complete the progress towards an internal market; that Member States should influence one another in the development of good practice through statistical comparison of their economic progress, and agree on quantifiable targets; that the format of the National Action Plans should include not only the successes, but where countries are underperforming; that the Agenda be given a higher public profile.
Download or read book Ensuring Effective Regulation in the EU written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-09-08 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In March 2005, the European Commission issued a Communication designed to improve the EU regulatory environment in order to promote competition and trade and facilitate job creation. The Committee's report examines the proposals for better regulation, including the 'regulation tools' of impact assessment, simplification and consultation, the position of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the case for a new regulatory body to oversee regulation in the EU, the Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Law-making and the role of Member States, the ambitions and activities of the UK presidency of the EU in this area. The Committee welcomes the initiatives and the attitudinal change that seems to be filtering through the Commission but highlights the need for full implementation and assessment; and also calls on the UK Government to ensure the issue is placed at the top of the EU political agenda.
Download or read book The 2006 EC Budget written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-07-12 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's report examines issues relating to the 2006 EC Budget and seeks to scrutinise the UK Government's position before the European Commission's preliminary draft budget is considered at the Budget Council on 15 July 2005. The Government has highlighted four priorities for the 2006 Budget, to ensure overall budget discipline; to make realistic forecasts for Common Agricultural Policy and Structural Fund payments; to scrutinise the financing of external actions (such as external relations, development assistance to non-EU countries and humanitarian aid); and to achieve administration costs savings. The report also considers issues regarding the Financial Perspective and the UK rebate. Conclusions drawn include support for the UK position that unless there is real reform of the CAP, the UK rebate should remain.
Download or read book After Madrid written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report examines the EU's response to international terrorism after the Madrid bombings in March 2004, including the European Council declaration and the European Commission's proposals on data exchange and intelligence sharing between law enforcement authorities; data protection issues; EU institutional structures designed to combat terrorism; the international dimension, including the role of Interpol, data transfer and passports; terrorist financing and access to financial databases. Conclusions reached by the Committee include that the EU's role in combating terrorism should remain a co-ordinating one in support of the Member States, which must retain primary responsibility, and the EU should engage with international agencies, particularly Interpol. Given the range of interests involved, effective co-ordination, and the work of the EU Counter-terrorism Co-ordinator, are crucial, and the present proliferation of EU groups and agencies needs to be reduced and streamlined. A uniform data protection regime within the EU would not only provide better data protection but would also facilitate the exchange of information.
Download or read book Evidence from the Minister for Europe the European Council and the United Kingdom Presidency written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-11-15 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Evidence from the Minister for Europe - the European Council and the United Kingdom Presidency : Report with evidence, 10th report of Session 2005-06
Download or read book Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2004 05 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-04-20 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report analyses MoD's annual report and accounts 2004-05 (published in October 2005 - later than planned - as HC 464, session 2005-06, ISBN 0102935424) which combines MoD's annual performance report and the consolidated departmental resource accounts. Overall MoD's performance against its seven Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets has been mixed: three were "met", two were "partly met", one was "on course" to be met, and one was "not yet assessed". On recruitment and retention (partly met) all three armed services are suffering from critical shortages in various specialist trades, including aircrew and medical personnel. Although MoD reported £400m of savings in the operating costs of the Defence Logistics Organisation, the Committee criticizes the fact that not all of them could be validated. On procurement, MoD did not meet the targets relating to project time slippage. Cost decreases of £699 million were reported on the top 20 major defence equipment projects, but much of this was a result of cuts in the numbers of equipment ordered or in the capability of equipment. Losses reported in MoD's Financial Accounts totalled some £400 million, a lower figure than the previous year but still a substantial sum. Reported losses on the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) programme, which involves the procurement of four transport ships, were some £100 million and further losses might arise. Another loss totalling £147 million related to a building project at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston. The building was unable to meet the requirement and no other use could be found for it. It is another example of substantial waste which has to avoided in the future.
Download or read book Remaining Government Responses written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-12-20 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The European Union Committee was formerly called the Select Committee on the European Union. Responses to the following reports from session 2003-04: 16th (HLP 104, ISBN 0104004622), 17th (HLP 105, ISBN 0104004657), 21st (HLP 131, ISBN 0104005076), 23rd (HLP 138, ISBN 0104005122), 24th (HLP 139, ISBN 0104005114), 27th (HLP 165-I, ISBN 0104005289), 30th (HLP 179-I, 0104005475), 31st (HLP 180, ISBN 0104005394), 32nd (HLP 186, 0104005564).
Download or read book Future Financing of the European Union written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Negotiations are underway to agree the details of the European Union budget for the period of 2007 to 2013 (known as the Financial Perspective), covering the newly enlarged EU of 25 member states. Further enlargement is likely, with Bulgaria and Romania due to join in 2007 and the possible accession of Croatia and Turkey being considered. The Committee's report considers a range of issues in relation to the current budget debate, including the merits of the Commission's proposals within the framework of recent and future EU enlargement; the Common Agricultural Policy; Structural and Cohesion Funds; the Lisbon Agenda; other spending categories; the functioning of the 'Own Resources' and a EU tax; UK abatement and the Commission's proposal for a Generalised Corrective Mechanism. Conclusions reached include support for the UK Government's insistence that the UK rebate is non-negotiable, given the inadequate reforms of the CAP; however, if real reform of the budget was offered, then the UK Government should be prepared to negotiate. Structural funds should be focused on the 10 new member states, as well as the two applicant countries of Romania and Bulgaria, with the phasing out of EU regional development funds for all 'old' member states with the exception of Greece and Portugal.
